This book utterly exceeded my expectations! It's murder mystery that is more about the investigation and relationships between suspects / murder victims than it is about the investigating officers themselves.

The plot is intriguing - a young couple are found dead on the beach, a bottle of Prosecco by their side, an engagement ring and a note saying simply 'sorry'. What is initially considered suicide is soon found to be something darker.

I felt like I was on a vicarious journey as a detective - uncovering the layers of deception, secrecy and relationships between the main players. This Made it SO readable - I was hooked and practically inhaled this book!!

I will definitely be on the lookout by other great reads from this author!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance copy.

Cornish-coast, police-detectives, crime-fiction, due-diligence, law-enforcement, teamwork, thriller, suspense, unputdownable, tense, murders, murder-investigation, friends, relationships, grief, grieving, illness, twisty*****

Not an unbiased review! Great series!
When DI Lauren Pengelly came upon the two bodies on the beach while walking the dogs it appeared as if there was a tragic double suicide. Not. The post mortem was definite that both were murdered. DS Matt Price and Penzance Major Crimes team find the whole investigation emotionally wrenching for both of the families and the members of the force. Especially DS Price whose father is downed with a brain incident. Despite all, everyone is working hard, and the end is a major twist.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected e-proof from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Avail Mar 19, 2025
#DeathatPorthcurnoCove by #sally.rigby.author #CornwallMurderMysteriesBk5 #stormbooks_co
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"Death At Porthcurno Cove” by Sally Rigby is a gripping crime novel that will keep you hooked from the first page. This is book 5 in the Cornwall Murder series, featuring DI Lauren Pengelly and DS Matt Price. Set in the Cornish coastal town of Penzance, Detective Lauren Pengelly is a strong and engaging protagonist, leading an exceptionally good team. The initial premise of a tragic double suicide quickly unravels, revealing a complex web of secrets and deceit. If you enjoy a good police procedural and a cozy mystery with strong characters and a great plot, this book will keep you guessing until the very last page. It's a suspenseful rollercoaster ride of emotions. An action-packed thriller that grabbed my attention from the start. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free advance copy of the book for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily."

Detective Lauren Pengelly’s dogs discover 2 dead bodies. She takes the dogs home and we never hear about them again. She also tells the parents of the dead that it is suicide without having a confirmed cause of death. I found all the characters to be flat and the writing to be too much tell and not enough show. The writing was overdramatic without building any anticipation. I found it to be an unengaging mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this DRC.
#DeathatPorthcurnoCove #NetGalley

Brilliant as always! Lauren discovers the bodies of a young couple on the beach while walking her dogs. Lauren, Matt and the team have to unravel all threads from what started out looking like suicide to a double murder with a twist. At the same time, Matt's dad falls ill, Ellie's secondment to Cornwall is nearly over and Lauren has her own family crisis that raises its head right at the end, leading very nicely into the next book. I love watching how all the characters grow and change as the series progresses and the cases are always intriguing. I've become a huge fan of Ms Rigby's work!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Sally Rigby for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

Three and a half stars.

DI Lauren Pengelly is walking her dogs on the beach when they discover a young couple lying dead in a cave. There is am empty bottle of prosecco, a ring box, and the young girl is wearing a suspiciously new-looking engagement ring. Why would a couple get engaged and then commit suicide? Was it a murder-suicide situation?

The victims Jasmine and Finley were childhood sweethearts, both attending Southampton University where they lived together. At first everything in their lives seems golden, but as Lauren and Matt investigate they find stories of obsession, addiction, deceit, and betrayal.

Yet another good story in this series which is settling down nicely. I complained about the first book that Lauren came across as too prickly and Matt too much of a saint and I think the balance has been restored. I always struggle with the term 'cosy' mystery as that always makes me think of ones with talking cats in small-town bookshops, whereas this is more cosy police procedural? Anyway, only downside was that I guessed the murderer's identity almost from the first mention of their name.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

This is another engaging and heartfelt read in this series. I enjoyed the next instalment and it can be read as a stand alone. It brilliantly blends mystery and emotional depth, making it hard to put down. The characters, especially Lauren, are relatable and well-developed, drawing me into their world effortlessly. I enjoy the writing style as it is really crisp, with just the right amount of suspense and emotion. The story is a safe detective romp with a personal touch. A definite recommendation for those who love a gripping, yet warm, mystery.

I have really enjoyed Sally Rigby’s previous police procedurals set in Cornwall and Death at Porthcurno Cove was an enjoyable addition to the series.
When a newly engaged young couple’s bodies are discovered at Porthcurno Cove it initially looks like a double suicide but as Lauren, Matt and the team investigate further they find that the student couple and their close knit group of friends were all hiding secrets.
I love the Cornwall setting of the novels and have grown fond of Lauren and her team. This series is an easy read, the plots are never complex but if you enjoy a straightforward police procedural I’d recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Storming Publishing for the opportunity to read "Death at Porthcurno Cove" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the fifth book in the exciting Cornwall Murder Mystery series. Ms. Rigby has once again crafted a brilliant story with interesting characters and the backdrop of the gorgeous scenery of Cornwall.

The story begins with someone - the reader can't tell if it's a male or female who has plans to end their pain, imagining the final moments. You get the sense of unhappiness and jealousy but who is it?

The rest of the story takes place between Sunday 10 September and Saturday 16 September. DI Lauren Pengelly is walking her border collies Ben and Tia on the beach when the dogs stumble upon 2 young people in a cave. She is soon joined by DS Matt Price and they wonder if they have a double suicide, a murder/suicide or or a double murder. We soon learn that the young people are Jasmine Dodd (21) and Finley Glenister (21) both students at Southampton University and they had just gotten engaged.

The families were worried when they didn't come home and neither was aware of the engagement happening. When the postmortem comes back confirming the cause of death they start wondering who could have done this and what was the motive. We learn that Finley had a gambling problem and he owed a lot of money yet he bought an expensive engagement ring. Their best friends tell a very different story. There appeared to be several other who were in love with Jasmine, bordering on the obsession. The shocking ending was one that was hard to see coming. A mark of a wonderfully crafted story is when you are kept guessing until the last page.

A couple of side stories also happened with Matt's father being ill and leading Matt to make some decisions. Tamsin is ready to come back to work from her injury and that means that Ellie will be leaving the team. Some feel that Matt brought the "murder vibe" with him when he moved from Lenchester. As the story ends we learn that there is trouble in Lauren's family and perhaps that sets up the next story in tis brilliant series. Always worth more than 5 stars!!

I’ve read all Sally Rigby’s previous books and this was as enjoyable as the rest, I find these quite easygoing as police procedurals go but they’re still well written with intriguing murders. Although there’s some continued storylines between the police staff you could easily read as a standalone if you want but I personally enjoyed catching up with the team. The murder victims, especially the male had some good background which definitely pointed to motive, I had my suspicions about the actual perpetrator for quite a while but for no obvious reason but it was a good choice and hopefully a surprise to many readers. This ended in a very interesting way and I’m hoping the next book will be a direct continuation!

Another fantastic instalment in the Cornwall Murder Mystery series I’ve loved all of these books but this one was definitely my favourite!

It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page it was a fantastic read and a true page-turner!

I could not put it down. I was fully engrossed right until the very end. I’d highly recommend this book you will not be disappointed.


🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars

Solid and straightforward police procedural - murder, red herrings, multiple suspects, and issues among the investigative team provide a rich context.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape and the environment in this clever police procedural. The plot itself is strong and presents an interesting mystery but the descriptive writing style really takes it up a level. I want to visit Penzance after reading this.

Golden sunlight bathes the rugged cliffs casting long shadows across Porthcurno’s sandy beach. Within a cove, lying on a blanket, are two bodies. Their limbs are twisted at unnatural angles, vacant eyes staring blankly at the sky. Beside them is an empty Prosecco bottle and a note with one chilling word written in black ink: Sorry! Great read!! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! This book had suspense, murder, mystery, intriguing, a fantastic who done it and a few wild twists! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I had a good time reading this book and I suspected the killer very early on but I kept second guessing myself because of the plot twists.

I will say that for me, there were a couple of things that niggled at me with the timeline but I am not familiar with police procedures and evidence outside of the US so this may be a non issue for other readers. In the US it is very unlikely that the medical examiner would be able to report on some of the findings in one day as well as the forensics findings. I felt that the timeline was pretty quick which I appreciate but I felt it was a bit unrealistic with regards to the evidence.

Aside from the evidentiary timeline issue, I think this was a fun, engaging story and there were enough twists and turns to keep me reading and intrigued until the last page.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant book in this fascinating series. These books seem to get better with each one. I loved the setting and the characters. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

When a Cornish detective walks her two dogs along a beach on a September morning and discovers two dead bodies one realises that Sally Rigby is at it again...turning the Duchy into a dangerous place to live...or die.
There's a flawless intensity to the investigation and a very deep layer of personal emotions. Love and hate come into sharp focus as two young men become prime suspects but with no actual evidence it is another difficult case for Lauren and Matt, the two detectives whose presence in the investigation makes this another compulsively readable thriller from Sally Rigby.
As always the author takes her readers through a labyrinth of clues, red herrings, and misdirection with a slight of hand every bit as impressive as Agatha Christie, Elly Griffiths and Robert Galbraith.
This is a must-read for every crime fiction fan.

DI Lauren Pengelly and her team in Penzance are no strangers to dealing with an unexplained death, only this time there are two bodies discovered on Porthcurno beach by none other than Lauren’s dogs on their daily exercise with the DI.

Another all absorbing read in this series and as usual it was a fast paced, exciting adventure with all the usual team. Great plot and a good mix of dubious characters well written.

This was a VERY early arc, with a few inconsistencies and errors, but even those didn’t spoil an enjoyable read, and I’m sure that once the gremlins have been sorted the book will be as slick and polished as the previous offerings.

A book I definitely recommend, and I look forward to what happens with Aunt Julia 😉.

3.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.